Denise Cooke of Indianapolis reported missing in Fenton, since located

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KSDK) - Authorities have charged a 29-year-old Indianapolis woman with child endangerment after her nine-year-old son was found alone at a Fenton motel Monday morning.

According to Officer Randy Vaughn, spokesman for the St. Louis County Police Department, an investigation about clothing and personal items turning up at a local business on Bolger Court in Fenton led them to the Stratford Inn on South Highway Drive, where they discovered the young boy.

That boy's mother, Denise Cooke, was last seen around 4 a.m. Monday morning. Her last known address was in Indianapolis.

Vaughn said the clothing and personal items found on Bolger Court apparently belong to Cooke.

Cooke was located around 1:15 p.m. when she returned to the Stratford Inn and arrested at that time, Vaughn said. Cooke allegedly told investigators she had gone out for a few drinks and did not have intentions of leaving her child alone for as long as she did.

County police initially made contact with the boy's grandfather to give him custody of the child, but were unable to do so. The child has since been remanded to protective custody until further notice.